This site is dedicated to those people who like to collect vintage technology, no matter what it is. If you collect old computers, handheld computer/PDAs, watches, robots, cell phones, calculators, game consoles, etc... This is a place to find out more about them.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

July 14, 1982, KTHI-TV, Fargo, ND - How far videos games had come from Pong to the hits of 1982! Do you remember playing Robotron, Stargate, Wizard Of Wor, Zaxon, Pacman, Amadar, Frogger, Solar Quest, Omega Race, Galaxan, Defender? An overview of the hot games at the time and the common themes and rules among them all. In 1982, they all seemed so advanced, so sophisticated. Looking back from the 21st century, they all now seem ... quaint. Transferred from 3/4 inch videotape via ADVC 300 and into iMovie HD. From Keith Darnay's personal video collection.

From Wikipedia: "The KIM-1, short for Keyboard Input Monitor, was a small 6502-based microcomputer kit developed and produced by MOS Technology, Inc. and launched in 1975. It was very successful in terms of that period, due to its low price (following from the inexpensive 6502) and easy-access expandability."

Sunday, May 23, 2010

I generally cover digital technology, but today I found an interesting video about the production of the original Ford Model T. When you think about it, modern cars are nothing but computers on wheels. For more information about the Model T, check out this wikipedia article.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

I remember wanting one of these Sony Aibo robot dogs but was not willing to spend the money on them. I found one recently on eBay, and they're now worth as much as they were when they were new. The except from the eBay auction:

"In 1999, Sony produced the first commercially available fully autonomous entertainment robot, knows as Aibo, model ERS-110, with an original production for the U.S. of 2,000 robots. We were on the waiting list for one of these robots, and were lucky enough to get one. The original price tag, with tax and shipping, was just shy of $3,000, but we considered it a rare opportunity to acquire an item that would be highly collectible and sought after.

We've had our Aibo, named Robi One Kenobi, for ten years now, but have found that he spends way too much time in his box. In fact, he spends about 51 out of 52 weeks each year in his box. Since the Aibo's start out like puppies, and "learn" as they do things, and since we don't have time to work with him, we've decided it's time to sell him and let someone else play with him."

Want to see a very rare vintage computer, checkout this Kenbak-1 computer that was recently sold on eBay. Here is some information from the eBay auction:

"The world's first personal computer: the Kenbak-1 Computer, Serial Number 183 from the original production run, Restored by and sold personally by John V. Blankenbaker, the creator and designer of the Kenbak-1

The Kenbak-1 computer, built in 1971, is considered by many computer historians to represent the world's first personal computer. This Kenbak-1 computer, serial number 183, has been in the possession of its creator John V. Blankenbaker since 1971, and has been recently restored by him to be fully operational. Kenbak-1 computers are scarce and considered to be highly collectible. On rare occasions when one has been offered for sale, they have sold for between $10,000 and $15,000."

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

From Wikipedia: "The IBM 5100 is based on a 16-bit processor module called PALM (Put All Logic in Microcode). The IBM 5100 Maintenance Information Manual also referred to the PALM module as the controller. PALM can directly address 64 KB of memory. Some configurations of the IBM 5100 had Executable ROS (ROM) and RAM memory totaling more than 64 KB, so a simple bank switching scheme was used. The actual APL and/or BASIC interpreters were stored in a separate Language ROS address space which the PALM treats as a peripheral device."